There is no denying that the Osmond brothers -- Alan, Wayne, Merrill, Jay, and Donny -- were talented performers. They had been in the business professionally since they were small, and had been regulars on the Andy Williams Show for years, as well as having a recurring role on a dramatic series The Travels of Jamie McPheeters.
But it was only after the Jackson 5 hit it big that the Osmonds began to hit the pop charts with their songs that borrowed heavily from the J5's sound. In fact, their first hit, "One Bad Apple," had actually been written with the Jackson 5 in mind, but Berry Gordy turned it down. Here is one of the better renditions of it, with the Osmond Brothers singing it live in about 1971:
I remember the first time I heard this song on the radio. I knew immediately that it wasn't the Jackson 5 because neither Merrill nor Donny sang as well as Jermaine or Michael -- they both have to strain to reach the higher notes. But I knew that it was someone trying to sound like the Jackson 5. And, of course, I was incensed that they were stealing the Jackson 5's sound. The Osmonds began to get all the space in the teen magazines that I thought the Jacksons should have had instead.
But before long, the similarities between the two groups got almost comical: Donny went solo / Michael went solo. Jacksons had a little brother waiting to join the group / Osmonds had a little brother waiting to join the group. They were even scheduled to tour England during the same week in 1972. Check out the slide show I put together a while back for more eerie similarities between the two groups.
Of all the groups that imitated the Jackson 5, no other evokes the ire among hardcore J5 fans that the Osmonds did. Maybe that's, in part, because they came closest to capitalizing on the group's success.
Tomorrow: The Sylvers
"One Bad Apple" was definately intended for the J5. I wasn't an Osmond fan but i think they did a good job on the song...
ReplyDeleteThis live performance is better than the studio version, I think. Donny sounded so shrill on the original.
ReplyDeletethe producer probally wanted him to do his best impersonation of Michael....haha
ReplyDelete"Straining" is right. -they were ALWAYS straining, especially the old guy-- I think he thought it made him sound more like david Ruffin. They copycats even did a medly of Motown songs on their first album called "Motown Special." Herky-jerky dance steps - they tried rilly hard but... It irked a lot of us also, because, being devout mormons, at that time they didn't even believe black people could GO to heaven! The Mormons have since rethought that. That's why they go to poor neighborhoods and knock on doors and even try to indoctrinate us lower species...
ReplyDeleteActually I would have never heard of the Osmonds if I didn't take an interest into the Jackson 5.
ReplyDeleteI do know some of their songs, apparently, like Puppy love, which was translated and sung by one of our most popular singer at the time: Claude François. But it seems he inspired himself a lot from all the motown or popular music of this time.
About Puppy love, Claude François covered it as 'Sur ton visage un sourire' (A smile on your face) and I believe he more referred himself to the Paul Anka version than the Donny Osmond one. Here's a vid link in case you'd want to see what it was like:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hr_6zSXIGHU
Claude François actually covered songs from the Supremes, Four Tops and many more. This is how I grew up with them without actually knowing it.
He only covered one of michael's song though, and that was in 78 for Ease on Down the Road, which became 'Doucement sur la route' and was mostly a song urging people to drive safely when they leave for the holidays. (hah!)
Claude François was also known for his dancing and you can see the guy didn't lack stamina in this other video (Belinda):
http://dai.ly/cKIiT2
Now with the hope that all these links work, and that I didn't bore you, I'll go do the work I'm supposed to do and stop procrastinate on the web. ^_^
Nadine
Thanks, Nadine! For some reason this song sounds a lot better in French.
ReplyDeleteHere's Donny's original studio version of the song, complete with a lip-synching performance. You can hear how they had to double-track Donny's voice to give it more strength and tone. Honestly, I almost get sea sick watching this video because of the back-and-forth movement of his head!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMrcnqKSbw8
This live version of the song from 1972 shows that Donny's voice did improve with age. He actually grew up to be a decent singer, after his voice changed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD45zl7L5Io&feature=related
But he's no Michael!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4VCUbL7jsc
Thanks a lot for those vids, I did stay a little bit up late last night watching some by the Osmonds as I didn't know them at all.
ReplyDeleteI got to say that that swaying movement and weird way of standing/ bending themselves while dancing/ singing did hurt my neck. heh.
I also thought that Donny's voice was way better after it changed, I didn't quite like it before that.
I, in fact, is a bit puzzled as to their constant comparison to the J5, as to me, really, there's isn't that much, I mean, they didn't even do the same kind of music really (from what I heard).
And really, am not saying that because I like the j5 more, but honestly, J5 were way better! ;)
Nadine
Nadine, that was what most teens in England concluded after seeing both groups in Nov 1972. In retrospect, the Osmonds weren't doing themselves any favors by touring England at the same time as the J5.
ReplyDeletethe osmonds probably did come the closest to the jacksons, but i do feel like the jacksons still remained the more popular (and certainly more talented) group. i wasnt born until 1979, but just from things iv'e heard and read, the osmonds were definently thought of as being second best to J5. both of my parents (who were young adults at the time) have even confirmed this. the osmonds WERE indeed popular, but they weren't as beloved as the jacksons.
ReplyDeleteum... you guys do know that The Osmonds were around MANY years before The Jacksons [since 1958] - and that their appearances on stuff like Andy Williams Show was one of the reasons / inspirations Papa Jackson had for getting his sons to perform. Micheal has been quoted as saying his Dad had them watch The Osmonds many times.
ReplyDeleteOf course, The Jacksons were far more talented - that is obvious - but it is completely inaccurate to suggest The Osmonds were just wannabes or that they copied The Jacksons - rather The Jacksons, to an extent, followed in The Osmonds footsteps and were far more successful at it.
Yep, I know that because I remember those days, and I even saw them perform live when Donny was still a toddler doing his schtick with Andy Williams. But in those early days the Osmond Brothers sang with a completely different old-timey type of music, barbershop quartet music, the corny stuff my grandma used to listen to. In fact, my grandma was probably a much bigger fan of the Osmond Brothers and their music than me or any of my contemporaries.
ReplyDeleteIt was only after the J5 hit it big that the Osmonds began to sing pop, and their new style was such a close copy of the Jackson 5 that many people had trouble telling them apart on the radio. Suddenly their fashions, dancing, and overall performance style changed so they became a "safe" white alternative to the Jackson 5. That's where the wannabe part comes in.
I personally liked the Osmonds way better. You'll never change my mind either!!
ReplyDeleteBeing about the same age as Donny and Michael and fans of both, we all liked both groups very much. But it is true, I remember admiring the Osmonds on the Andy Williams Show years before even hearing of the Jacksons. The Jacksons were fortunate to have the strong backing of Motown and its songwriters. Maybe the Osmonds were not given songs as good as the Jacksons had. But the albums the Osmonds put out in the early 70s were very good and we played them over and over. Then came the switch to the early songs of the Jackson 5. The Osmonds were good enough to be on a top show and sing with a big star where they were strongly influenced by the Williams Brothers quartet style. Looking back, I do not feel one group is better than the other. They both are very talented . It seems life for the Osmonds turned out better because they are more family oriented and have had less drama.
ReplyDeleteI grew up with both. Got MJ's autograph in the 70s. Got Osmond autographs in the 70s. Loved the Osmonds, loved the Jacksons. The Osmonds recorded singles long before the Jacksons. One Bad Apple was an RB sound, but as the O's started writing and recording their own music is was more rock-based, even Led Zepplin sounding. The Osmonds really took music to a new level by adding entertainment to their concerts. Every song was completely, highly choreographed, not just danced to; something that was not common back then. They were the first group to "fly" someone over the audience and have the record for having the loudest concert in Wembley Stadium history. They definitely had a different sound than the Jacksons for most of their careers. The rock press did not like the Osmonds because of their religion and wholesome lifestyle so they didn't get the critical acclaim or the air-play time of other groups like the Jacksons. However their fans included Elvis and Paul McCartney. There is another record that the Osmonds hold. Music historians recently announced the Osmonds as the longest running musical group in history, having never disbanded; 55 years this fall, performing between 100-250 dates per year. They just completed a sold-out tour of the UK-50 shows in 60 days, also releasing a brand new album this year. Say what you will. The Osmonds hold their own. The Jacksons were great in their day. The Osmonds are still great.
ReplyDeleteIf anything it was the Jacksons who copied the Osmonds. Gotta love revisionist history.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm. Well, none of my friends were J5 fans in 1972. It was all about the Osmonds. I went to my first show about then, I was probably 9 or 10. I loved their early hard rock stuff. Donny's solo career kind of got in the way of the direction the band should have went. I loved that the Osmond's sounded the same live as they did on their records. Back in the early 70's I thought Merrill Osmond had the best lead voice. My friends and I have never compared them to the J5, they were not at all the same. As a joke I like to refer to them as the black Osmond Brothers. I have a been a fan for over 40 years. Your blog is great, btw.
ReplyDeleteI prefer the Jacksons.
ReplyDeleteThe Osmonds can play 28 instruments expertly between the 5 of them and can sing songs from any genre. (They were good enough to fool black radio stations with "One Bad Apple.) They began writing their own songs, and playing their own instruments on the studio recordings by 1972. This included three of their biggest rock songs, (Hold Her Tight, Down By The Lazy River, and Crazy Horses). By this time they were producing songs that were nothing like The Jacksons and their was no need to keep comparing them. Don't know why people continue to do so.
ReplyDeleteNotorious wannabes? Seriously? They only did ONE song that was similar to the Jackson 5 style, which was HANDED to the Osmonds because the Jacksons preffered to record ABC instead. If you bothered to listen to the other songs by The Osmonds you will realise that most of their music (especially when Merrill was lead) was all in their own league. The Jacksons may be more well known than the Osmonds but that doesn't mean the Osmonds don't deserve credit and it especially doesn't mean they're a bad imitation or wannabes. Also, I'd like to say one more thing that hopefully will drum into your head so you can stop making this unecessary pointless debate. Both the Osmonds and the Jacksons were best friends with each other. They never thought of themselves as rivalling against each other. Only you and other crazy fans think that. Both groups are musically talented and gained respect for each other so I don't see why this debate has to go on any further. If they had mutual admiration towards each other and treated each other equally why can't you?
ReplyDeleteActually it's the other way round. I wouldn't say the Jacksons copied the Osmonds but it was actually the Osmonds that inspired the Jacksons to become a group. They saw them perform on the Andy Williams show and decided to perform themselves. You need to rephrase your blog because most of it is very inaccurate. The Osmonds may have been similar to the Jacksons in a lot of aspects but it's unfair that all the attention goes to The Jacksons when The Osmonds deserve it just as much as they do, as they were both good friends and are both phenomenal musicians.
ReplyDeleteIf it wasn't for The Osmonds, there would be NO Jackson 5.
I prefer the Osmonds. The Jacksons are overrated imo.
ReplyDelete